JO Blog

Awhile back I purchased a vintage, French grain sack. I have tons of pillows and in all honesty…I didn't want to cut it up. I decided that framing it would be the perfect solution and I could show it off and look at it all the time. That was months ago. I finally got around […]

As the weather is getting cooler I love the endless possibilities of layers.  Hats, scarves, sweaters, coats….all the little extras that make an outfit really stand out. Summer wardrobes are a little plain jane for me….fall is really my fashion element:-) Here are some of my picks right now. The best part is that all […]

I know I have not shown you any photos from our trip to Boston, Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Would you believe that I have not even gone through the photos yet? It is true! They will be coming…maybe at Christmas time….but they are coming. I had to show you some unexpected treasures I found […]

Today, with my pumpkin spice latte in hand, we drove 2 hours away to an apple farm. Yes, we could have gone to the grocery store and bought apples ….but this was a little more fun. I would like to point out that we were about to drop the two youngest on the side of […]

On Saturday I went to the Paris Street Market with my sister. I found some really great pieces for my office and home. What I obviously found is a lot of ……HATS! I really like fall….REALLY. The accessories alone make it great. Boots, scarves, hats…..are you with me? I know it is not officially fall […]

  If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know that we homeschool our children. Sometimes I am amazed at our decision, how it was made and the joy and ease it has added to our life…but that is another post. We will officially begin our school year after Labor Day. Our oldest […]

  Sometimes I am reminded of all the things I take for granted. How many times have I let opportunities pass me because I was just being lazy? How many times have I been too hard on my body and judged it instead of rejoicing in it's beauty? When was the last time I thought […]

  Before #3 we used this room as our school room. I loved the green we had painted it so when we found out that #3 was going to be a boy I just wanted to add a few things to it. We (ok…I had nothing to do with it) added the bead board and […]

  Summer is not winding down unless we are off picking berries at Berry Patch Farms. This has been a tradition I have had with the children since Jack was a toddler.     We are usually met each year by friends and this year my sister and her two girls joined us.     […]

It is finally here! I am exhausted and my house looks like a tornado hit it…but I am beyond excited for what I am bringing you this season. A lot of planning went into this collection and I hope you adore the extra touches as much as I do. There will still be more coming…but […]

I am . I am going to an art retreat and I don't know any of the other women…yet:-)   I know I will make friends right away though.   Melody Ross is hosting the retreat and teaching the workshops. I have always admired her creativity and beautiful heart. I can't wait to spend a little […]

  On our way to Massachusetts and back we had connecting flights. We had a LOT of time to spend in the airport. I love to watch people. Seriously. My husband has to get my attention because I will be STARING at people so captivated by what is going on and I have a whole […]

(originally posted January 25, 2009) Has there ever been a word that people have called you and you don't know how to embrace it?  A beautiful word?  A word that has so much meaning to you?  I come from a family of painters, dancers, musicians…..ARTISTS.   Everyday I get beautiful emails from customers and blog readers […]

(Originally posted on February 18, 2009) Inga may be a little Swedish.   She may also have a little accent.  It wouldn't be surprising if she wears a French maid outift when others are not looking.  Inga doesn't eat that much….she has the smallest waist I have ever seen!   I may throw a box of […]

(Originally posted July 18, 2008) I recently bought The Prairie Girl's Guide To Life by Jennifer Worick.   It has many fun projects and tips.   My family decided to try the homemade ice cream last night.   Lets just say….we earned our ice cream!  I was getting tired of the children asking if the ice cream was ready […]

(originally posted December 30, 2008) …Don't worry my husband knows.   If you have read about this man, their marriage, their love maybe you have fallen a little for him (and her too).  Anytime a man writes a beautiful love note to his wife and a gun is not pointed at his head… women are going […]

The clothes are all packed. The suitcases are by the front door.   The camera is charged and ready to go. We are off to Boston and then Cape Cod.   We are so excited and the kids will be able to see so many historical sites that they learned about this year.   We […]

I grew up with a mother that loved old movies. Saturdays would always include my mom ironing and watching old movies. She was also known to bribe us to go to the drug store to get her a hershey bar with almonds. Did your mom iron all your clothes? My mom did! My dad had […]

    You know how they say you can be "fashionably" late for a party? Then you can just be plain late? I'm just plain late. Summer+Me=No idea of the date. Seriously. Just be glad I wasn't hosting the party..that would have just been embarrassing! Today was the Blogging For Bliss book release party hosted […]

I got so many emails about my first post of favorite things I thought I would do another one. I would like you to know that my friend Amy Jo especially enjoyed it and referred to Oprah (Oprah's favorite things) when expressing her joy over the list. She is a lover of ALL things Oprah. I am […]

My husband loves to take the kids to the park and fly kites with them. Isn't it nice that we all have different interests because I would probably never do this with them. It is just not my thing. I do lots of things with them that Kelly wouldn't consider also. It was a beautiful […]

  My new bedding from Carolyn Westbrook has arrived.  I will put up some photos soon. It is just as lovely as I knew it would be and the quality is wonderful! You can find her HERE. With my new bedding comes a deal for you. We have recently bought a new mattress. Within the […]

Whenever my husband has to fill out my occupation on paperwork he writes in "domestic goddess".  If only that were true. Our house is usually picked up but rarely clean. I throw out food every week (because it has gone rotten) because I didn't make all the meals I intended to. I could honestly stay in my […]

  Ok. I would like to be clear that I am not talking about my own father. Sure, he is a fine looking man, but I am not in the habit of calling him hot. I am talking about Pa Ingalls. What? Like you haven't thought it! I loved that show growing up and now […]